Mar. 10, 2013

Loading Photo Galleries ...

Written by

Detroit Free Press Sports Writer

Georgia linebacker Jarvis Jones (29) is shown against the Georgia Southern in an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 17, 2012, in Athens, Ga. / John Bazemore / Associated Press

More

ADVERTISEMENT

Concerns about Jarvis Jones’ neck condition might be overblown, according to a report today on NationalFootballPost.com.

Jones, the pass-rushing outside linebacker from Georgia who could be a consideration for the Lions with the No. 5 overall pick, was diagnosed with spinal stenosis, a narrowing of the spinal column, after suffering a neck injury as a freshman at Southern Cal.

Doctors wouldn’t clear Jones to return to the field, prompting him to transfer to Georgia, where he played 26 of a possible 28 games the last two years and led the nation with 14 1/2 sacks as a junior.

Jones said at the NFL combine last month that his condition hasn’t changed since his initial diagnosis, but reports at the time suggested it was still enough of a concern that multiple teams ruled him out of the first round and could take him off their draft boards entirely.

According to NFP, Craig Brigham, a leading orthopedist, “refutes that Jones ever had a significant spinal cord contusion.”

Brigham concluded that Jones would not be in a career-ending situation if he suffered another similar injury, according to NFP.

Jones likely would slot as an outside linebacker and pass-rush specialist for the Lions, who have two of last year’s starting linebackers (Stephen Tulloch, DeAndre Levy) under contract and a third (Justin Durant) as a free agent.

General manager Martin Mayhew said at the combine the team would take a close look at Jones’ medicals.

“In Jarvis Jones’ case, he was playing some pretty good ball out there and the neck looked fine to me,” Mayhew said. “But I don’t know. It varies. Every situation is different. Every individual situation is different.”